HELENSBURGH travelled to Carrick on Saturday hoping to stop the rot of away game losses they have had this season, however the title-chasing hosts maintained their recent form in a convincing 53-8 win.

Burgh kicked off in wet and windy conditions and and pushed Carrick hard to keep them trapped inside their own half.

Keeping the ball away from Carrick the Grizzlies pushed up to the 22 where a penalty was conceded to Helensburgh. stand off Johnny Drake duly converted to make it 3-0 after five minutes.

Burgh were looking the hungrier team and for the next 10 minutes pushed hard at the home side but couldn’t get the ball over the try-line.

On 15 minutes Carrick eventually managed to get possession and their forwards drove the ball from the 22 to cross over the try-line to make the score 5-3.

Carrick now had their tails up and after another three minutes their extremely effective backs passed the ball out to their wing to score another try.

Helensburgh were attacking well but any loose play was being punished by Carrick and another three Carrick scores made the half-time score 27-3.

Helensburgh kicked off the second half hoping to tighten the game and stop the Carrick backs breaking through. and managed to keep them out for the first 10 minutes of the half.

However on 50 minutes a missed pass was pounced on by Carrick to run in another try which was converted to take the score to 34-3.

It was now damage limitation for the Grizzlies, but even that would prove an impossible task,

Four more tries were scored by Carrick who dominated the last 30 minutes of the second half.

A consolation try by second row Fergus Voight didn’t dent the scoreboard enough and the game finished 53-8.

The Grizzlies were beaten by a better team but can now concentrate on their last four home games to try to keep themselves in this league. They really need to win them all to ensure safety.

Silvers man of the match went to prop Phil Ard.

Helensburgh: Ard, Ashdown, Flannagan, Greiggan, Inglis, Gibson, P Rogers, Mussett, Harris, Drake, Bowman, Simmons, Homer, Alton, A Rogers(c). Subs: Voight Ram